It’s cliché to say that things can get “lost in translation”, but I think that’s what happened in the case of Daizen Maeda's recent interview that was picked up by a number of international outlets, including several in Scotland.
What Daizen Maeda is reported to have said
Maeda was quoted as saying: “I need to achieve more and more results with my own team and keep aiming higher. That’s where it all starts.”
Many interpreted this as a reference to Celtic, but unfortunately machine translation still hasn’t grasped context. Japanese is a largely contextual language, one that, despite living here for close to 20 years I’m still struggling to fully understand.
Simple Misunderstandings
Maeda added: “I don’t think about whether I can’t play for the team I go to or not, I just fight for the team I am with and that’s all I want to do. I think it would be good if I can do that.”
Again, this might seem like a reference to Celtic, but it isn’t. In fact, Daizen Maeda barely mentioned Celtic at all at any point in the interview.
Confused? Don’t Worry, I Would be Too
I’m not quite sure how to word this without coming across as a smug, smart-mouthed, pr*ck but I’ll do my best.
As someone who speaks Japanese every day, and lives with someone (my lovely wife) who doesn’t really speak English, these kinds of misunderstandings, when things are picked out and translated literally, without the full context, happen all the time. However, it’s easily cleared up.
Daizen’s Words, In Full, With Context
Let’s handle that first part of Daizen’s interview to begin with. The quote attributed to him was: “I need to achieve more and more results with my own team and keep aiming higher. That’s where it all starts.”
What he actually said was: “I need to do my best and keep aiming higher when I am a member of the team. That’s where it all starts.”
Daizen was referring to the fact that he was only a substitute for Japan’s 2-0 win over Bahrain the other day, which clinched World Cup qualification.
He meant that he’s not angry at being left out, but that he is motivated to try his very best when he does play, so that it makes it harder for Japan national team manager Hajime Moriyasu to leave him out of the starting lineup.
Some Additional Context
Onto the second part of the interview that most media outlets picked out. Daizen Maeda was quoted as saying: “I don’t think about whether I can’t play for the team I go to or not, I just fight for the team I am with and that’s all I want to do. I think it would be good if I can do that.”
This quote is a little to harder to parse without some additional background info. The man who kept Maeda out of the starting line up for the Bahrain match, Ayase Ueda of Feyenoord, has had to withdraw from the squad due to an ankle injury.
In Ueda’s absence, the interviewer from Tokyo Sports Web suggested that Maeda is a probable starter for Japan’s next game against Saudi Arabia. A game which, by the time you read this may have already happened.
Daizen Makes his Feelings Clear
With this extra background info, and a little bit of cleaning up Google’s rough translation (thanks wifey!) here’s what Daizen Maeda actually said:
“I don’t think about it if I can or can’t start the games when I am called up to the team (The Japan squad). I just want to fight as hard as I can for the team when I am out there with them. I hope that I can do that.”
Japanese Isn't Easy
So, again, with the benefit of hindsight and taken in its full context, I think it’s pretty clear Daizen wasn’t talking about Celtic. However, I say that with the benefit of 20 years spent struggling to try and understand his native language!
Daizen Maeda is, however, a very proud, committed and tireless worker on the pitch for both Japan and Celtic. And that’s why we love him!